With just over 100 days to go to the London 2012 Olympic Games commence, Great Britain’s sailing crews were on top form last weekend at the final event in the 2012 RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series.
Bronze medallist Bryony Shaw and the 2012 selected 470 crew of Hannah Mills/Saskia Clark (pictured) confirmed their dominance on the home waters of 2012 as they topped the tables at the end of the two day domestic Spring Series event.
An event which provides home-grown talents in the Olympic classes the chance to race against regular Olympic classes competitors and some of Skandia Team GBR’s top performers.
Hannah Mills/Saskia Clark demonstrated their resilience after a disappointing tenth place at the Princess Sofia Trophy with a consistent set of scores across the six races to finish the weekend top of the female fleet and overall event winners.
Skandia Team GBR Transitional Squad sailors Amy Seabright/Eilidh Mcintyre and Joanna Freeman/Katie Tomsett finished the weekend in second and third respectively, while Development Squad sailors Sophie Weguelin/Sophie Ainsworth finished runners up in the overall Spring Series standings after finishing fourth.
In the Paralympic classes, Megan Pascoe was lethal in the 2.4mR, posting five bullets to clinch event honours ahead of Martin Whittingham-Jones in second and Steve Bullmore in third. The Skandia Team GBR sailor was also crowned Spring Series champion for her weekends efforts.
Skandia Team GBR Development Squad Manager, Barrie Edgington, commented, “This weekend provided some great racing across the six Olympic and Paralympic classes in what were some very fresh and challenging conditions in Weymouth Bay.
“In addition to deciding the RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series winners, this weekend will also decide who gets the grants to the major summer and autumn ISAF World Cup events and class championships.
“It was great to have four of the 2012 Olympic crews competing as it gives the young sailors who are making the transition into Olympic boats the opportunity to learn and rub shoulders with some of the world’s best sailors.”
More info: www.ryaracingevents.org.uk
Lizzie Flint, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
